If you’re considering redoing the exterior of your house, then you need to spend some time seriously thinking about the color of your siding. Believe it or not, the color matters quite a bit, especially if you want to think outside of the box and choose something besides the ubiquitous white and gray.
While there’s nothing really wrong with either of those colors, you just need to remember that you can – and should – consider other ones. Here are seven reasons why you should seriously consider your siding color before moving forward with your renovation plans.
1) You Need a Color That Matches Your House’s Style
Some houses are more traditional than others. This means that you need to stick with tried and true colors for them. Think dark, muted colors, jewel tones, and even the basics, like black, white, gray, and beige. Others are far more modern. With them, you can think outside of the box and get a little more creative. The color of the window frame on the exterior is also a factor.
Some examples here include bright reds and blues, yellow, orange, and even purple and pink. With that said, there are some older, traditional homes that can have colorful siding, such as Victorian-style houses. These are traditionally known as “painted ladies” thanks to the many colorful features that they had. Of course, this is just one example. As long as the color looks like it belongs on your house, you are in good shape.
2) You Need to Obey HOA Regulations
If your neighborhood is governed by a homeowner’s association, then you need to check those regulations before you settle on a siding color. Many of them have a specific amount of colors that you need to stick with. For example, you probably need to have your house finished in a neutral color that fits their rules.
They also more than likely limit you to shades that will help you blend in with the rest of the neighborhood. Since you don’t want to be fined and forced to redo your siding, check those regulations before proceeding.
3) You Don’t Want to Have to Power Wash Your House Regularly
How often do you want to have to power wash your home? If the answer is “not often at all” then you might want to stick with a darker color. Light colors tend to get dirty quickly, and they will need to be power washed quite often.
Think of it as you would a car – you wouldn’t pick a car that shows a lot of dirt unless you enjoy visiting the car wash. The same is true of your siding.
4) The Color Can Help (or Add to) Your Utility Bills
Did you know that the color of your home has a lot to do with the amounts of your utility bills? If you have a dark colored house, then it could trap sunlight in the summer and end up being far warmer than it needs to be – forcing you to spend more money on electricity to keep your air conditioning running.
Light colored house reflect the run back at the sky, making the interior cooler. Keep this and your climate in mind when choosing your siding color.
5) Roof Color Matters
Yes, your siding needs to match your roof. However, if you’re planning on having your roof redone at the same time, then you have a little leeway here and can choose two complementary colors for them.
But, if you’re planning on keeping your roof because it’s already in great shape, then you really need to pick a siding color that matches it. Thankfully, most roofing materials come in neutral colors, so this shouldn’t be too much of a chore.
6) You Need to Match the Rest of the Neighborhood
If your home is in an area without a homeowner’s association, you can probably get away with choosing a siding color that is a little more outside of the box – as long as you don’t make your house stick out like a sore thumb in your neighborhood.
Of course, you shouldn’t care too much about what your neighbors will think of your new siding color, but at the same time, you don’t want to alienate them either. If you live in an area with plenty of colorful houses, then feel free to blend in – and the same is true if all of those homes are neutral-colored.
7) Your Landscaping needs to be Complimentary
If you love to place colorful flowers around your home, then you’ll want a siding color that looks good with them. This means that you might want to go with a light and a neutral colored house that really makes those flowers pop. However, if you prefer basic shrubs, then you can go with any house color that you want.
